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Mount Horeb Public Safety Building Wins Silver Firehouse 2020 Station Design Awards

November 19, 2020
Firehouse 2020 Station Design Awards Graphic

We are excited to share that the Mount Horeb Public Safety Building has won the Silver Award for Shared Facilities in the Firehouse 2020 Station Design Awards.

In efforts to reduce cost and waste and to connect the local public safety departments, this new, state-of-the-art facility unites the Mount Horeb Area Joint Fire Department and the Mount Horeb Police Department in one building. Design solutions considered both individual department needs and multi-purpose solutions to maximize efficiency and accessibility throughout the building.

The fire station was designed to minimize response time and get staff to the scene of need as quickly as possible. The two-story wing offers two stairway entry points and a fire pole, getting firefighters from bed to engine in less than 30 seconds. A five drive-thru-bay garage supports all fire apparatus and provides full site lines to the apron and bay from the dispatch center.

The fire department wing was designed with education and training for both departments in mind. A large, shared training classroom with adjacent storage, along with a conference room and study room allows for flexible, hands-on instruction.

The police wing features offices for investigations, an evidence processing and storage area, a booking and holding area with separate secure entrance, and a secure armory. A 10-car garage and two-car sallyport includes high-speed doors creating efficient response to an emergency. The heart of activity during the day is the roll-call room. This large gathering space offers a technology bar, workstations, and a kitchen, and becomes the hub during emergency situations.

The most unique feature of the project is the building’s central lobby. Designed as a museum, this space invites visitors to explore the history of the Village’s fire and police departments. This museum displays toy and equipment collections of former Fire Chief Chuck Himsel and historic police department memorabilia. The public lobby features a custom built, wall-mounted fire truck tailboard in the children’s area. Visitors can climb on the truck, pull off the fire hose, dress up in firefighting gear, and have photos taken on the truck feature. The historical pole from the former fire station is also in this area with a small step up for children to enjoy. The engaging space energizes visitors and gives a positive, exploratory experience with the two departments.

The building’s architecture and details were inspired by the fire department’s newest ladder truck. Black detailing from exterior finishes to windows panes and interior hardware mirror the truck’s timeless aesthetic. Exterior materials seamlessly transition indoors via stone walls, glulam beams and structural wood ceilings, accenting the surrounding environment. The exterior also utilized bricks donated from a local corporation. The bricks were separated into light and dark colors to modernize the exterior finish of the facility. The three-story tower now acts as a beacon for the village, symbolizing the security and pride coursing through the public safety building.

We are so proud of this award, and it is because of our strong partnerships with the clients at the Mount Horeb Public Safety Building that we were able to design a notable facility.


Learn more about the Mount Horeb Public Safety Building here.
Read more about our project (Pg. 122) and the other winners of the Station Design Awards here.


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